BAIC to start NZ cooperation

Beijing General Aviation Co Ltd's booth at an aviation exhibition in Beijing in September. Provided to China Daily

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Beijing General Aviation Co Ltd, a subsidiary of BAIC Group, signed on Tuesday cooperation agreements with New Zealand's Pacific Aerospace Ltd, an airplane builder. That country's Premier John Key attended the ceremony as his first stop on a visit to China.

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It's a significant step for the two countries, Key said, since New Zealand does not export just dairy and lamb to China but also technology.

The China-New Zealand Aviation Industrial Park will be established in the Pinggu District of Beijing.

"The industrial park will cover the whole industry chain, from manufacture to training," Key said.

The two companies will jointly build the P-750 airplane, one of Pacific Aerospace's main models, in Beijing.

"BAIC Group will provide full solutions for residents' transportation," said Xu Heyi, chairman of the Beijing General Aviation and the group.

BAIC Group can be more competitive by entering the general aviation industry, he said. It chose a New Zealand partner because of that country's general aviation industry's long history and advanced technology.

The single-engine, propeller-driven P-750 received type certification from China in 2012.

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